Delegates from Ukraine and Russia concluded the first day of resumed trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The United States mediated these four-hour discussions to address the war.
Abu Dhabi Hosts Trilateral Peace Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the initial sessions in the United Arab Emirates were “constructive and quite substantive.” His team briefed Kyiv’s leadership on security guarantees and humanitarian issues.
Jared Kushner told delegates the US had “narrowed the gaps” between the sides. He said he hopes these efforts lead to a solution for the conflict. The Kremlin delegation features presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. He participated in previous talks in 2022 and 2025. Medinsky said the Russian delegation is now larger and more professional. He said he wants to advance peace for both populations.
When I received the second report from our negotiating team after their meetings in Abu Dhabi, they told me that the Russians think and say they have already occupied half of Donbas, which remains under our control. These were military officers, Russian intelligence, and they… pic.twitter.com/bs1c7blV1p
US President Donald Trump told reporters he sees a “very strong inclination” to end the fighting. He said the parties are “tired of fighting.” Trump promised to resolve the war after taking office in January 2025. He claims a “big agreement” is forthcoming. The US administration has pressured European allies to take more responsibility for their defense. This created friction between Washington and various European capitals.
Diplomats Debate Postwar Security
Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov met with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said these discussions were “very productive.” He argued for including European powers at the formal table.
Received a report from our negotiating team. Today was the first day of meetings in Abu Dhabi. First came a meeting with our European and American partners, followed by a trilateral format between our delegation and the American and Russian delegations. I am grateful to all of… pic.twitter.com/mesjgP1U8S
President Zelenskyy said it is “time” for Europe to select a representative. Ukraine requires clear details regarding Western security guarantees. Kyiv maintains these must be central to any final agreement.
Sequencing the deal is an unresolved question. Officials must decide if a wider European security framework should be part of the peace agreement. Russia has demanded a say in scaling back NATO’s presence. Kyiv and its allies have resisted this condition. Moscow wants to review security protocols for the entire continent.
Russian Strikes Kill 26 at Zaporizhzhia Aid Distribution Point
President Zelenskyy said Russian forces bombed a school in the Zaporizhzhia region. The building was used as an aid distribution point. The strike caused 26 deaths. He called the incident a “vile terrorist strike” involving a two-stage aerial bombardment. Russian strikes continue to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches. This threatens the availability of heating, water, and electricity for millions of civilians.
The “Multinational Force – Ukraine” (MNF-U) is preparing for exercises in Poland. The UK and France lead this force. They plan to test deployment efficiency once a ceasefire is reached. Both sides remain entrenched. Ukraine seeks 10 years of financial support to sustain its army. Russia continues to demand that Kyiv surrender control over contested areas.
⚡️ The Russia-US-Ukraine trilateral talks with the participation of UAE as hosts have begun in Abu-Dhabi 📸 © Russia Today pic.twitter.com/BZb2l6tkt4
More on Abu Dhabi
💬 FM #Lavrov: It makes sense to define the parameters of a future security architecture before settling the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. ❌ We won’t agree to another truce unless we know the next steps. We’ve seen the Kiev regime’s ploys time & again.https://t.co/D3MjpwoCod pic.twitter.com/Ik6IaqC3lQ
Keep reading
On Dakar’s Packed Beaches, Africa Welcomes Its First Youth Olympics
Dakar has officially become the capital of African youth as the first Olympic event on the continent opened...
I Pay $500 for 5 Square Metres’: Spain’s Protesters, in Their Own Words
Maricarmen Abascal died in hospital on the same day property owners agreed to let her return after her...
Germany Tells Rubio Europe Must Have a Say in Ukraine Peace Deal
Europe belongs at this table. There can be no solution without Europe – only with Europe, German Minister...
Australia Considers Criminal Penalties for AI Harm After OpenAI Breach
Australia will introduce mandatory reporting and explore criminal penalties for companies that fail to prevent harm caused by...